From Wikipedia:Raymond Albert "Ray" Romano (born December 21, 1957) is an American actor, stand-up comedian, screenwriter and voice actor, best known for his roles on the sitcom 'Everybody Loves Raymond' and in the "Ice Age" film series. He recently starred in the TNT comedy-drama 'Men of a Certain Age'. Ray joined the cast of 'Parenthood' beginning September 11, 2012.AS SEEN IN:'The Knights Of Prosperity'1] "Operation: Oswald Montecristo"2] "Operation: Steal The Safe"3] "Operation: Rent Money"

Friday, April 19, 2013

Syfy has committed itself to "reinventing" 'Blake's 7' which was a sci-fi show on the BBC in the 1970s. The series will run thirteen episodes, many of which will be written by Joe Pokaski of 'Heroes'.

Even though this new version is a remake, it may not have to be relegated to an alternate TV dimension as the original show wasn't set in the main Toobworld in the first place. The characters comprising the group known as Blake's Seven were on the run from the evil Federation - this means that they were in the Evil Toobworld dimension. After all, the Federation of Planets in the main Toobworld was a peaceful organization (for the most part.)

It all depends on what details from the original premise will survive this "revolutionary reinvention"........

From Wikipedia:James "Jim" Irsay (born June 13, 1959) is the owner and CEO of the Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League.After his father suffered a stroke in 1995 Jim assumed day-to-day management with the role of Senior Executive Vice President, General Manager and Chief Operating Officer in April 1996. When his father died in 1997 Jim engaged in a legal battle with his stepmother over ownership of the team, but later became the youngest NFL team owner at that time at 37. He controls 100% of the franchise.Irsay is known as one of the more friendly owners. Irsay is a common user of twitter, and even gave money after he said whoever got the correct score of the 2013 Super Bowl.AS SEEN IN:'Parks And Recreation'"Two Parties"

SYNOPSIS:After pulling some strings through his friendship with Irsay, Chris Traeger got the guys into the Colts' stadium to run a few plays with a couple of the players.BCnU!

Thursday, April 18, 2013

During the 1990s, a portal was discovered between Earth Prime-Time and a parallel world populated by fictional characters from TV shows based on "real" people from Toobworld. (It was equivalent to a portal between our world and Earth Prime-Time.)

The government kept knowledge of this portal and how to access it top secret. For some reason, however, it was decided asylum should be granted to some of these fictional characters in Toobworld, despite the fact that the originals of those characters (and the actors who portrayed them) already existed in Earth Prime-Time.

Perhaps the government was forced to do so by threats from some omnipotent yet still fictional demi-god "over there".

Somehow the secret of this portal leaked out. Perhaps the U.S. government in Toobworld decided to share the knowledge with its allies.* From there, it's pozz'ble, just pozz'ble, that a video suggestion of Ethel and Julius revealed the secret behind the copycats of Fred and Ethel.

In the days of the Cold War, the secret would have fallen into the hands of the Soviet Union or Red China. Later, it would have been terrorist cells in the Third World. But in the early years of Prime-Time in the 21st Century, there is a new empire to be reckoned with:

Multi-national corporations.

Gaining access to the technology behind the portal would be one of the beginnings for the alternate future time-line in which corporations run the world in 2077.

In using the technology, the corporations started off small:

Paulie "Walnuts" Gaultieri may be over in Earth Prime-Time on a permanent basis. He may even have bumped off his original and taken his place in Tony Soprano's crew. Eventually those walkers that found a way through the portal would have to be destroyed in order to prevent Earth Prime-Time from turning into a copy of Zombie Toobworld.

As for Danaerys Targaryen, eventually the Mother of Dragons would have to go back in Time through the portal, to the Westeros continent on the planet Mondas, in order to fulfill her destiny. (Based on the size of her dragons in the blipvert, they still have a ways to go in reaching their full size.)

But that's the Toobworld splainin to prevent a Zonk with those commercials.

SHOWS CITED:

'Hi Honey, I'm Home'

'The Sopranos'

'The Walking Dead'

'Game of Thrones'

'Continuum'

'Doctor Who'

'I Love Lucy'

COMMERCIALS:

"Netflix"

"Time Warner Cable"

BCnU!

*There must be some Britcom characters who have made similar crossovers, even if only onto a talk show or variety program?

From Wikipedia:James B. Patterson (born March 22, 1947) is an American author of thriller novels, largely known for his series about fictional psychologist Alex Cross, the Alex Cross series. Patterson also wrote the Michael Bennett, Women's Murder Club, Maximum Ride, Daniel X, and Witch and Wizard series, as well as many stand-alone thrillers, nonfiction and romance novels.AS SEEN IN:'Castle'"Flowers For Your Grave""A Deadly Game"TV DIMENSION:Alternate ToobworldO'BSERVATION:Patterson plays poker with Richard Castle (among other mystery writers) on a regular basis. His televersion may also do this in the main Toobworld.BCnU!

Wednesday, April 17, 2013

When it comes to the TV adaptation of George R.R. Martin's "A Song Of Ice And Fire" cycle as 'Game Of Thrones', it has been the Toobworld Dynamic premise that the series takes place on the planet Mondas from 'Doctor Who'. Mondas is the Earth's twin, sharing the same orbit, but it was there first for many eons and had been created of star stuff naturally as an act of God. On the other hand, Earth was manufactured as a super computer by the Magratheans. (So there's your Creationism vs. Evolution argument, I guess.)

The events of 'Game Of Thrones' took place long before humans from other star systems crash-landed on Earth to breed with the native humanoid stock. By that time, Mondas was just beginning the cybernetic transformation of its populace and it's our contention that many rebels against this process escaped the planet by spaceship and fled to Earth seeking refuge. (See the 'Twilight Zone' episode "Probe 7 - Over And Out" for details.)

One TV show episode that belongs on the Mondas timeline just before the "rise of the Cybermen" would be "Number Twelve Looks Just Like You" which is also from 'The Twilight Zone'. It takes place in the year 2000, and since those events never happened on Earth Prime-Time, then it should be considered the year 2000 A.L. on Mondas.

Toobworld Central didn't have anything to back up this claim... which has never stopped me before. But now there is some suggestive evidence that the world of the Seven Kingdoms carried on long after the book cycle will end. And surprisingly enough, that "proof" comes from the TV show itself.

Here is the music that played over the end credits:

We heard the song earlier in the episode of "The Walk Of Punishment" when Roose Bolton's men sang it as they transported Jaime and Brienne as their prisoners.

But at that time it had the flavor of the times - a carousing simulation of a Medieval song for that world. (Jaime rightly assumed that the men were working themselves up to rape Brienne once they made camp.) The other version, however, is reminiscent of the Irish punk sound from the 1980s here on Earth.

Therefore, the song survived the ages and was revived and adapted by some band in the years before they were transformed into Cybermen like the rest of the world's population.

From Wikipedia:Keith Barlow Hernandez (born October 20, 1953) is a former Major League Baseball (MLB) player who was the starting first baseman on World Series championship teams with the St. Louis Cardinalsin 1982 and the New York Mets in 1986. He began his career in the majors with the Cardinals in 1974, winning the National League (NL) batting title and sharing the circuit's Most Valuable Player (MVP)honors with Willie Stargell in 1979. After a midseason trade sent him to the Mets in 1983, he became the undisputed leader amongst the players of the brash ballclub that also fell a victory short of capturing the 1988 NL Championship Series.Hernandez appeared in five MLB All-Star Games and hit better than .300 six times between 1979 and 1987. Generally considered one of the best defensive players at his position, he was awarded the Gold Glove in eleven consecutive seasons from 1978 to 1988, the most by any first baseman in baseball history. He retired as an active player after spending one year with the Cleveland Indians in 1990.Currently a baseball analyst working on Mets telecasts for SportsNet New York and WPIX since 2006, he has gained a cult following from his broadcasting career.AS SEEN IN:'Seinfeld'"The Boyfriend"SYNOPSIS:[from Wikipedia]Hernandez guest starred as himself in "The Boyfriend," a two-part 1992 episode of the sitcom 'Seinfeld'. In the episode, Hernandez dated Julia Louis-Dreyfus's character Elaine Benes, and Jerry Seinfeld developed the male-bonding equivalent of a crush on him. A subplot of the episode spoofed the "Magic Bullet Theory" from the JFK assassination. According to the show, on June 14, 1987, the Mets were playing the Philadelphia Phillies at Shea Stadium, and Hernandez committed an error in the ninth inning, allowing the Phillies to score five runs and costing the Mets the game. Hernandez exited the player's gate, where Kramer (Michael Richards) and Newman (Wayne Knight) were waiting and Newman heckled Hernandez with "Nice game, pretty boy!" Kramer and Newman then spent the next five years claiming that Hernandez had spat on them, when in fact they learned that it was really Roger McDowell – a "second spitter", just as Jerry had postulated.

Hernandez also appeared in the final episode of 'Seinfeld', which aired in 1998. ESPN Columnist Bill Simmons coined the phrase "having a Keith Hernandez Moment" in reference to Hernandez' 'Seinfeld' appearance where he recovers from a moment of self-doubt by simply reminding himself: "I'm Keith Hernandez!" Elaine ultimately dumps Hernandez due to him being a smoker.BCnU!

Tuesday, April 16, 2013

Three old pensioners living at the State Pioneers home in Saguaro had only recently been released from nearly half a century of incarceration in the state prison. They had been train robbers at the turn of the century known as the Leadville Kid Gang:

Joe Horn- Raymond Hatton

Billy Gregg (now known as "Uncle Billy Gregg) - Burt Mustin

and the Leadville Kid - Will Wright

We never learned the real name of the gang's leader, so it's easy enough to make the claim that he was the brother to any one of the many characters played by the character actor on other TV shows.

Some options would be:

Mr. Skinner of 'Willy'

Mr. Thompson of 'Mr. Ed'

Oliver on 'The Donna Reed Show'

Plus a handful of characters each from 'Perry Mason' and from 'The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet'

But my two top choices would be Mr. Merrivale on 'Dennis the Menace' and Ben Weaver from 'The Andy Griffith Show', with me leaning more towards the owner of Weaver's Department Store in Mayberry.

This "game of the name" could be played with Will Wright again, as there were several characters of his in different shows who were simply known as the Justice of the Peace. Each of them could be the same man......

From Wikipedia:Van Johnson (August 25, 1916 – December 12, 2008) was an American film and television actor and dancer who was a major star at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer studios during and after World War II.

Johnson was the embodiment of the "boy-next-door wholesomeness (that) made him a popular Hollywood star in the '40s and '50s," playing "the red-haired, freckle-faced soldier, sailor or bomber pilot who used to live down the street" in MGM movies during the war years with such films as "Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo", "A Guy Named Joe" and "The Caine Mutiny". Johnson made occasional World War II movies through the end of the 1960s, and he played a military officer in one of his final feature films, in 1992. At the time of his death in December 2008, he was one of the last surviving matinee idols of Hollywood's "golden age."

AS SEEN IN:

'I Love Lucy'

"The Dancing Star"

Lucy got Van Johnson to dance with her at the nightclub so that she could impress Caroline Appleby.

'The Jack Benny Show'

"Jack's Life Story"

Van Johnson was hired to play Jack Benny in the movie version of his life. [This fake movie exists in Toobworld.]

'Ryan's Hope'

"Episode #1.1260"

When Delia Coleridge opened her Crystal Palace restaurant, Van Johnson was among the luminaries to attend the grand opening.

Monday, April 15, 2013

I'm amazed to realize that after nearly fifteen years of the TV Crossover Hall of Fame, I have never seen Big Bird inducted as one of the great crossover puppet people. A certain maroon moron of a Muppet made it into the TVXOHOF before this towering classic!

I remember making an icon for his inclusion into the Hall early on, but I guess as that year progressed, "the selection committee" found someone else more noteworthy.

No matter. It's time to set things a-right!

Outside of Kermit (who transcends the boundaries set by specific shows), Big Bird is the first superstar of 'Sesame Street'. That will always be his home, even though he's been seen on so many different TV shows over the years. And not just TV shows, but specials, commercials, and even a few movies in the Cineverse!

Here's a list of Big Bird's most important appearances in Toobworld as far as his crossover eligibility goes:

TV SHOWS:

'Sesame Street'

'Zhima Jie' (1998-2001)

'Sesame Street' (Japan)

GUEST APPEARANCES:

'The Ed Sullivan Show' (1969)

'The Flip Wilson Show' (1970)

'The Electric Company' (1972)

'Hollywood Squares' (1976, 1977, 2000, 2001)

'The Muppet Show' (1978)

'Mister Rogers' Neighborhood' (1981)

'Soul Man' (1998)

'Between the Lions'

'Jeopardy!' (2006)

'Saturday Night Live' (2012)

BLIPVERTS:

Don't Forget to Watch the Movie

A Brief History of Motion Pictures

Fuji Xerox (Japan)

Yamazaki bread commercial (Japan)

(You'll note I don't have 'The West Wing' in the list of guest appearances. Although it could be argued that Big Bird was appearing as himself and not as Carroll Spinney in the costume, the series took place in an alternate Toobworld. Still, just by writing this splainin, it gave me an excuse to share a picture from that episode!)

For a more complete list of Big Bird's ample qualificiations for entry into the TV Crossover Hall of Fame, click here.

Sorry it took so long to welcome you aboard, Big Bird, but Toobworld Central is glad you're finally home to roost!

Florence Agnes Henderson (born February 14, 1934) is an American actress and singer. She is best known for her role of Carol Brady on the ABC sitcom 'The Brady Bunch' from 1969 to 1974. She may also be known for being a contestant on 'Dancing with the Stars' in 2010. Henderson currently hosts her own talk show, 'The Florence Henderson Show', on RLTV.

AS SEEN IN:

'30 Rock'

"My Whole Life Is Thunder"

SYNOPSIS:

Tracy tries to fulfill Kenneth's wish that his life was more like TV with the help of Florence Henderson. - IMDb

It became a crisis when they really did get stuck in an elevator.

O'BSERVATION:

For some reason, the blended families of Mike and Carol Brady, who really existed in Toobworld, were deemed worthy of the TV treatment. Because she so closely resembled the new Mrs. Brady, Florence Henderson was cast in the role.

The puppet people of Toobworld assume all of the qualities of the shell that they are inhabiting. So when a spirit wore the shell of Margaret Thatcher, it became for all intents and purposes the Iron Lady hersellf:

As far as her flesh-and-blood appearance in Earth Prime-Time, - is she represented by Lindsay Duncan, Sylvia Sims, or Andrea Riseborough? - Mrs. Thatcher definitely can count on 'Are You Being Served?' in the episode "Monkey Business". All that was seen of her was her arm as she shook hands with Mr. Humphries.

From Wikipedia:Eugene Kal "Gene" Siskel (January 26, 1946 – February 20, 1999) was an American film critic and journalistfor the Chicago Tribune. Along with colleague Roger Ebert, he hosted the popular review show 'Siskel & Ebert At the Movies' from 1986 until his death.In 1975, Siskel teamed up with Roger Ebert, film reviewer for the Chicago Sun-Times, to host a show on the local Chicago PBS station WTTW which eventually became 'Sneak Previews'. Their "thumbs-up, thumbs-down" system soon became an easily recognizable trademark'.

'Sneak Previews' gained a country-wide audience in 1978 when it was carried on PBS.

Siskel and Ebert left WTTW and PBS in 1982 for syndication. Their new show, 'At the Movies', was produced and distributed by Tribune Broadcasting, the parent company that owned the Chicago Tribune and WGN-TV.

In 1986, Siskel and Ebert left Tribune Broadcasting to have their show produced by the syndication arm of The Walt Disney Company. The new incarnation of the show was originally titled 'Siskel & Ebert & the Movies', but later shortened to 'Siskel & Ebert'.

Siskel also appeared as himself on an episode of 'The Larry Sanders Show'.

Roger Ebert on Gene Siskel:"Gene Siskel and I were like tuning forks. Strike one, and the other would pick up the same frequency. When we were in a group together, we were always intensely aware of one another. Sometimes this took the form of camaraderie, sometimes shared opinions, sometimes hostility."AS SEEN IN:'The Larry Sanders Show'"Off Camera"

Just An Old Cowhand On The TiVo Grande

As the Trickster once said, "Reality is boring, that's why I change it whenever I can."
I'm just "The Man Who Viewed Too Much", and "Inner Toob" is a blog exploring and celebrating the 'reality' of an alternate universe in which everything that ever happened on TV actually takes place.
Most of my theories about the TV Universe come from thinking inside the box and thus can't be proven. But I've never been one to shy away from a tall tale.....
Remember: "The more you watch, the more you've seen!"